The feeling that I was being watched didn't leave me alone.

Usually, I wouldn't be bothered by being alone in Steve's apartment. This happened from time to time when duty called for him and not me (which I still wasn't happy about, but I guess there was nothing I could do about that). But for some reason, something changed today. The apartment was a little too quiet. Kate wasn't around often, so that was considered normal for this place.

But for the place to be a little extra quiet than normal? I wasn't most people who wrote that off as anything but suspicious.

Normally, the silence wouldn't bother me. But for some weird reason, it did. Am I being watched? I hadn't been paranoid about something like this for a while, not since the incident with Seth Joyce and Kasey Clark. I had no reason to suspect it was them again. Kasey Clark was dead, I'd watched the bullets bite into her body. As for Seth, he was in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.

The feeling still wouldn't go away, even as I made the bed and tried to go to sleep.

I sat up in bed. I lit a gentle flame on my hand to give the room some light. I slipped out and searched every nook and cranny before I found absolutely nothing. I pursed my lips. When I had a feeling like this, it was usually right.

Someone wasn't supposed to be snooping around here. This certain someone needed to get the hell out before I found them. They wouldn't want to have their ass lit up by a fire-wielding Asgardian. Do they even know who they're dealing with? I knew that Kasey Clark had. Would this be a similar instance?

They would either be cocky or stupid to think to go against me and try something.

Keeping my breathing even, I tiptoed out of the bedroom and into the den room. From my dim fire, I surveyed the area. I found nothing, again.

I couldn't dismiss this feeling, not when it grew even stronger. My brain told me to remain alert, but my body ached for me to return to bed and hope that my feeling was just that and nothing more. Reluctantly, I obeyed my body and sauntered back into the bedroom, back under the covers.

I rested a hand under my head after I diminished my fire, keeping my focus towards the door and the window. I knew for a fact the window was locked. My eyelids began to droop lower and lower. If anything does happen, I can handle myself. I know Steve is okay wherever he is. I'll see him soon enough. I hadn't heard from him yet, so I assumed he was still with Tasha on the mission. I worried for Steve, like any girl who had a super soldier as a boyfriend would, but I worried a little less because I knew that he knew what he was doing.

I let my eyes close. Any slight noise I heard—no matter how faint—I tensed in bed. This night wasn't going to go smoothly, I could already see that.

I shifted to lie on my back, already uncomfortable with my side. I didn't get how Steve slept like a plank. Only last night he'd slept behind me, in a normal position for once. It seemed to have done him some good.

It was unusual to be alone in the bed that Steve and I shared now, since most of the time at night he was with me instead of running off with S.H.I.E.L.D. But I always knew that this was only temporary.

Something cold pressed itself over my mouth and nose.

My eyes shot open, and a shadow loomed over me. I felt a tiny prick in my neck, and I reacted by punching the invader in the mouth. Only I didn't hit a mouth when I struck, I hit something else. A mask?

I leapt out of bed to confront the intruder. I lit up one palm to expose him to some light. I took a half step backwards. I had never seen someone like him before.

He had to be the one who'd been watching me.

I couldn't see his eyes, black goggles hid them. His longish dark hair pooled around his face gear, making him seem all the more intimidating. The most noticeable feature was the metal left arm of his and the needle that was held in the hand.

This was scarily similar to my run-ins with Kasey Clark, only she didn't look as intimidating or have a metal arm on her.

"Who are you?!" I demanded in a hoarse shout. I could only assume that he wasn't giving me a friendly stare behind all his protection.

The intruder gave no answer. He tensed, ready to anticipate and counter any move that I made. Right now, it was just—I assumed—a staring contest.

My mind quickly ran through my options. Fight or flight? Destroy the apartment or take it outside? Risk lives or limit the fight to here?

I didn't get to choose.

The intruder moved swiftly, trying to take me to the ground. I lost the fire in my palm, plunging us both into darkness. Body hit body, and I refused to let him hit me or take me. I didn't know who this guy was, but I was sure as hell not going anywhere with him.

I struck him hard across the face. He stopped momentarily, and when his metal hand reached out, it only got the necklace Steve had gotten me yesterday. I was a little torn up when I saw how easily the chain broke, releasing it from around my neck.

Growling, I tried to shove some fire in this guy's direction. But, as we were fighting, I realized my fire power was malfunctioning. When my eyes found my dying fire, it was enough for the guy to punch me square in the face. I reeled back, and as he charged for me, I decided it was time to take the fight out of the apartment.

I ran out of the bedroom, hearing my intruder charge behind me with heavy feet. Sure, he has heavy feet now, but I couldn't hear him before. How did he even get inside?! I tried to shoot fire at him to spook him, but my fire continued to flicker. It would come when I called it, but when I tried to shoot it, it fizzled out.

I didn't like how this was working out for me.

I swung the door wide open and practically cleared the stairs with one leap. I turned to look over my shoulder to see my pursuer attempt to mirror me. I burst through the entrance to the apartment complex to encounter a cool night.

No one was around, no one on the streets. Cars were parked on the sidewalks, but no cars were in the streets. I made a left and started running. I tested my fire along the way. The flames were just mere sparks now. I'm having issues again? But that's not possible. We figured out why it had started in the first place.

Unless...

Unless someone got a hold of Seth's serum. The one that had taken away my powers entirely.

Someone had a hold of that. Whoever it was, they knew what it could do.

Steve! I shouted.

Kiara? What's wrong?

Someone broke into the apartment. They're coming after me. Something's wrong, they've got Seth's serum. I don't know how much time I've got until this gets cut off.

Do you have a profile on him?

He's someone I've never seen before.

Kiara, now isn't the best time to be telling me this.

I didn't know who else to get.

Try Todd. Get him...get help...for you...he'll...

The connection went dead.

I tried to get Steve again, but I was unsuccessful. It sounded like I had lost him through a tunnel, his voice faded on me. I cursed under my breath. Just when I thought I'd been through with that damn serum...

I hid myself in the darkest alleyway possible, hoping that my pursuer would run right past me. I couldn't believe I was reduced to running and hiding. I wasn't strong enough to handle him without my powers.

Todd, I said. Todd. I need you, like, right now.

I didn't get an answer. I began to panic.

I called fire to my palms. Nothing, not even a tiny spark, answered me.

My jaw set. Now, instead of being fearful of this guy, I despised him. I wanted him to pay for this. If he wants to fight one on one, I'll give him a good fight. I'll knock him flat on his ass for this.

Whistling wind above me made me spin around and dance back. I didn't need light to see he'd caught up to me. He must've used the buildings. I wasn't dealing with your average intruder, but I knew that from the moment he'd appeared ghost-like into the bedroom.

With a small battle cry, I charged. His speed matched mine, his strength almost did also. He was easy to throttle, but he bounced right back and continued to attack. For a while, it was mainly punches and kicks being thrown, until I felt something sharp slice into my cheek. I jumped back, seeing a small blade of a knife gleaming in the darkness.

The man swiped for my face as I went to attack; I dodged and took him out at the waist. I sent us both to the ground, wrestling for control. I couldn't read him, his face gear obscured that. If I can just get that off him...

We tumbled along the rough ground until it was me trying to keep a pointy knife tip from piercing one of my eyes. I grunted, putting all my Asgardian strength to good use.

I kneed him in the gut, giving me a temporary advantage. I switched positions with him, stripping the knife and holding him down. I held his metal arm down with my one foot, making sure he couldn't do anything. I held his own blade to his throat.

"Who are you?" I demanded again. I could only see my determined reflection in his goggles. He gave no response. "How do you know about me?"

Again, I received no answer. My patient was starting to be tested.

Dull pain blossomed in my right thigh. I gasped, and the man lurched up to smack his forehead into mine. I was knocked backwards, the knife flew out of my grasp, and I landed back first on the ground. I quickly got to my feet but stumbled to support myself against one of the brick walls. The man got to his feet and didn't attack, he just watched.

The world was starting to tilt. Was this how it felt to be drunk? I blinked my eyes, as if that was the cure. What did he inject me with now?

Through my confusion, I still tried to fight him off. But I did more harm to myself. I practically fell into his arms. My eyes began to flutter. No, no, not a sedative. Not a sedative.

My knees gave out, and the guy let me sink to the ground. He made sure I was on my back. My breathing was slowing, my eyes fought to stay open. His figure towered above me. I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

The world continued to spin.

The last thing I remembered seeing was the man putting one silver finger over his mask as a signal for me to just accept my fate quietly.

**Did someone say...plot twist?

[maniacal laughter]**